VAAP Testifies, Presents at Nonprofit Advocacy Day
Standing Strong in Solidarity: Jill Martin Diaz Speaks at Nonprofit Legislative Day 2025
On April 22, 2025, Jill Martin Diaz (they/them), Executive Director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP), took the stage at Common Good Vermont’s Nonprofit Legislative Day in Montpelier. Speaking alongside Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden), Dan Barlow (People’s Health and Wellness Clinic), and Jesse Bridges (United Way of Northwest Vermont) at a mid-morning panel event, Jill delivered a powerful message about courage, care, and collective action in the face of rising threats to civil liberties and community wellbeing.
Earlier that morning, in their testimony before the House Economic Development Committee, Jill addressed the chilling effect of fear-based policymaking on immigrants’ social and economic contributions and the urgent need for nonprofits to resist the pressure to preemptively comply with unjust systems. Drawing from their own experience as an LGBTQ+ Latinx leader and a “DEI target” who cannot simply opt out of visibility, Jill warned against the quiet harm of acquiescence. “Fear is the strategy,” they said. “And when we preemptively comply—when we self-censor, when we shrink our missions to avoid scrutiny—we’re doing the work of oppression for them.”
Along with co-panelists Senator Ram Hinsdale, director Barlow, and director Bridges, Jill later called on lawmakers and nonprofit leaders to disarm fear not only with advocacy, but with solidarity, self-care, and strategic foresight. They emphasized the importance of preparing now—while calm—for the next wave of challenges, rather than waiting to respond in crisis. Their remarks also underscored the emotional toll of this work and the need for organizations to prioritize the mental health and sustainability of their team. They shared how VAAP is navigating a landscape of shrinking federal support, noting that with many funding cuts already behind them, the organization is actively diversifying its funding and planning for the possibility of total federal divestment. “We’re not waiting for the next emergency,” Jill said. “We’re building the infrastructure now to survive it.”
One of the most resonant moments of the panel came when Jill reminded the audience:
“These are our rights, and it is really unfair for any of us to ask the people most impacted, most immediately harmed by this Administration, to be the ones fighting for the rights for all of us.”
Jill’s testimony resonated deeply with attendees and legislators alike. Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale and director Jesse Bridges, moved by the panel’s insights, went on to co-sponsor the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund—a critical step toward ensuring access to justice for all Vermonters, regardless of immigration status. In recognition of their leadership, Jill was also invited to join the advisory board of the Community Development Pro Bono Project, a new initiative led by Jenn Hayslett to strengthen legal services for nonprofit capacity and collaboration across Vermont.
Jill’s testimony before the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development alongside Pride Center director Phebe Zorn is now available to stream on YouTube: Watch here.
The full panel discussion is now available to stream on YouTube: Watch here.
